The All India Football Federation (AIFF) today heard the concerns of the I-League clubs regarding the proposed conference model for the 2013-14 season and asked all the representatives to send their recommendations in order to arrive at a quick decision.
"The proposed Conference Model (for the 2013-14 season of the I-League) by AIFF's Emergency Committee was discussed at length. The clubs raised some concerns about the proposed model to which AIFF explained their point of view. The clubs would accordingly send their recommendations so that a decision can be taken jointly," the AIFF said in a statement.
The meeting was chaired by A R Khaleel, chairman of I-League & Federation Cup committee, and attended by general secretary Kushal Das, vice-president Subrata Dutta, treasurer Hardev Jadeja, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar, representatives from all I-League clubs and representatives from AIFF's marketing partners IMG-R.
Mohun Bagan, though, was conspicuous by its absence.
The proposed move to adopt a MLS-style Conference model for the next I-League season has ruffled feathers in the clubs.
Under the MLS model, the league will see teams divided into two groups -- east and west conference -- with only the top four progressing to the final round, while the remainder of the clubs will fight to save themselves from the one relegation spot.
In today's meeting, the committee informed the clubs about AFC's criteria that all I-League clubs would need to have a coach possessing a Pro-Licence Degree from 2017 onwards.
The clubs were also informed that no technical director without an A-Licence degree would be allowed to sit on the team bench or enter the dressing room from I-League 2014-15 onwards.
